A professor at the American University of Beirut has been criticized for writing a book in collaboration with two scholars from the University of Tel Aviv, according to the Los Angeles Times. Lebanese law forbids its citizens from having any contact with Israelis. Sari Hannifin angered social scientist colleagues and students at the university, many of which support a proposed academic boycott of Israeli universities. Later interrupted speaking engagements in the UK to appear before a meeting of students and staff on the campus of UAB in which he apologized for the offense caused, but defended his actions. The AUB Provost Ahmad Dallas, reminded all scholars of the need to respect the law. Hannifin advocates claim that he had been subjected to a "witch hunt."
A prominent Chinese academic who was to speak at an academic conference in the United States are prohibited from leaving China. Professor Cui Wiping, a poet and professor at the Beijing Film Academy, was scheduled to give a lecture at Harvard University and attend a conference sponsored by the Association for Asian Studies. But the director of the school said she had been forbidden to travel. The New York Times reported that Cui believed he was being punished by the Chinese authorities for their comments on human rights and freedom of expression. More recently, his activities have included the publication of social criticism in his blog, sponsored a seminar on the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square and sending Twitter messages about the imprisonment of Liu Xiao, a writer who was convicted of subversion last year to demand an increase in freedoms.